Volunteer School Governor (Torbay)

What will you be doing?

Governing bodies are responsible for the strategic management of a school and will make decisions about a wide range of issues The core responsibilities involved are:

Ensuring accountability Acting as a ‘critical friend’ to the Head Teacher Monitoring and evaluating the school’s progress Budgetary allocation and control Shaping plans for school improvement and overseeing their implemenation Setting the school’s aims and values Appointing senior members of staff including the Head Teacher

The governing body is usually split in to a small number of committees, each responsible for one area such as finance or pupil achievement. These committees will meet separately from the main governing body to discuss relevant issues in more detail. Discussion is then fed back at a full governing body meeting. A school governing body is made up of representatives from the school, the parents, the local authority and the local community.

What are we looking for?

Essential skills are ability to work as part of team, commitment to 'collective responsibility' and ability to think strategically. Other skills such as finance, legal, HR and general business skills can be very valuable additions to a governing body.

What difference will you make?

Governors perform the most important voluntary role in education and a full and diverse governing body can be a source of enormous strength to a school. Governors provide an external perspective and an ability to challenge assumptions and look for the best solutions.They bring enthusiasm, experience and expertise from other areas of life and can act together as a well balanced group of people to effectively support the Head Teacher and staff to drive the school forward.